Conference Coordinator, Dr Adam DeRosa
Adam began his journey with the South Florida Pride Bands (then known as the Flamingo Freedom Band) in 2000 and immediately began serving on the Board of Directors as secretary in 2001, then treasurer from 2002-2004, and ultimately as president from 2004-2011. During his presidency, he oversaw the renaming and rebranding of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble in 2006 and South Florida Pride Bands in 2023. From 2011 – 2017, Adam remained very active in several roles. As grant writer, he raised over $100,000 for the band. As co-founder and coordinator of the Pride Youth Band of South Florida, he has aided in giving hundreds of high school students the incredible experience of working with world- class conductors and composers such as Frank Ticheli and Johan DeMeij.
Adam was also integral in raising funds so that over $200,000 in college scholarships have been awarded to Pride Youth Band participants to date. In 2017, Adam once again became president of the SFPWE Board of Directors and is still serving in that role. Through his leadership, the South Florida Pride Bands has invested in the Jon Sims Endowment Fund and hired our first Managing Director in 2019. His vision and tireless efforts continue to push the band ever forward as one of the shining stars of the South Florida Community.
Adam has been active in LGBA Annual Conferences as Conference Chair for the 2004 (Fort Lauderdale), 2009 (New Orleans), and 2019 (Orlando) conferences and was on the Conference Committee for the 2014 (Fort Lauderdale) conference. He has served as a member at large on the LGBA board from 2008-2011 and as board president from 2011-2013. During his time on the board he served as annual conference liaison, interim Vice President, and helped establish the Pillars of Pride Award. Since leaving the board, he has remained active in LGBA, overseeing the commission of “City Trees” for LGBA’s 30th Anniversary, attending Gay Games in 2010 and 2014, and attending the two Inaugural parades in 2009 and 2013. For the 2013 parade, Adam served as co- chair of the planning committee. Finally, he worked with other LGBA past presidents to create the LGBA Presidents’ Circle in 2016 which to date has raised over $100,000 for LGBA. In 2020, Adam was recognized as a Pillar of Pride.
Adam has a passion for commissioning new works and supporting contemporary composers of wind band music. In addition to overseeing LGBA’s commission of Michael Markowski’s “City Trees,” Adam was key in the commissioning of Robert Longfield’s “The Road Less Traveled” for the SFPWE’s 25th Anniversary, two pieces commissioned for the 2019 LGBA conference, “Stonewall: 1969” by Randall Standridge, and “My Soul to Keep” by Julie Giroux, “Leaves of Grass” by Robert Sheldon to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Pride Youth Band of South Florida, and “Las Olas” by Chandler Wilson and “Proud of Me” by Michele Fernandez for the 2024 Pride Youth Band program.